Friends in passing: social interaction at an adult day care center.

This study explores the social interactions and friendships that exist among cognitively impaired adult day care participants. A five month participant observation of an adult day care center was conducted, involving fifty-three clients ranging in age from sixty-six to ninety-three. Findings indicate that the clients engage in a variety of social interactions and friendships, enabling them to maintain a sense of self as well as to adjust to the norms of the group. Specific areas to be discussed are: general socializing, enduring friendships, helping relationships and client integration. A descriptive approach such as this provides the opportunity to examine the complexity of social interactions, including the positive relationships available to the cognitively impaired elderly.